A/N: Beware a long description ahead! enjoy. Sorry again for it being so long! Someone had to go rupture a lung and end up in hospital. (Spoiler alert that someone is me.)

Prompt: "Stronger doesn't mean you're heartless."

It's the 60's. Canada is roaring with life and is gaining prosperity. The visible city of Toronto appeared to be as normal and peaceful as the come, but it's seedy underbelly goes unseen by any outsider. Maman Karnstein, otherwise known by the names of Mother by her underlings or as The Dean by the general public and police force, is the biggest crime boss to ever set foot on the Toronto ground. One of her underlings is Carmilla Karnstein, orphaned at 13, is an 18 year old with no where else to go. She's dark, mysterious, broody...and the most reliable person on The Dean's team of underlings. An expert in charm, airs of mystery, deception and emotional detachment. She's notorious around the town for her attachments to the cases of several missing girls and there is no one brave enough to touch her or The Dean...or so they thought. Before they know it, a plucky, nosey and brave freelance investigative journalist is sticking her nose into some extremely perilous waters...

"Elizabeth Spielsdorf , eighteen, novelist and private investigator. She's becoming a nuisance my dear Mircalla. Take care of her."

The audio of the memory plays in Carmilla's mind, as if a cassette was drilled into the temporal lobe of her brain.

Her eyes shift to her watch. 'She should finish in about seventy five seconds...' She notes. Carmilla bites the corner of her chapped lips in preparation, the beginnings of the soft patter of rain dropping from the grey abyss of the sky. Carmilla swears the universe is trying to prohibit her from fulfilling her task.

She sighs, lifting her dark gaze from the spotted concrete to see her mark walking out of her work complex. Carmilla secures her pitch black fedora on her head and begins to survey her target, following her through crowded streets and shortcuts through alleyways.

It doesn't take long to get to Elizabeth's apartment. The apartment that's taken Carmilla four days to see.

Carmilla had noted that Elizabeth slept in her office most nights, which led her to spending a day learning how to get past the security system just in case she had to lure her target from the office.

Carmilla followed Elizabeth into the complex, observing her as she entered apartment 69A.

Carmilla figured she had enough information to report back to Mother and learn when she had to lure her. Turning on her heal, Carmilla leaves, her black trench coat flapping in the wind as she does so.

The rain gets heavier along with Carmilla's despair.

'I will be rid of this one day...'

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"Her pad is in the Lake Veiw apartment complex, the downtown suite. It's about a half hour walk away from her workplace. I've written a timeline of her movements across the four days I've been watching her." Carmilla summarises unenthusiastically, a tiresome bored look on her face. 'This skirt is such a drag...'

The Dean nods in mild approval. "Good work Mircalla. You know enough to murk her?"

Carmilla roles her eyes. "It's Carmilla, Mother. And yes, of course. Won't even break a sweat."

"Good. Kill her within the next two days. The squealers told me that her book on us is due to be released in three days. Remember to hang tough with her, I hear she's a bit of a bogart." The Dean instructs, waving her hand in dismissal as she returns to her quarters.

'Well guess I gotta beat feet.' Carmilla thinks as she turns on her heal and returns to her room, inhaling the smell of a sandalwood candle she had burned before leaving.

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The news of Elizabeth Spielsdorf's disappearance spreads fast. The first piece of media to blast off the details was an independent newspaper by the name of Silas Specials. Carmilla spotted it on a news stand one day, the cigarette she was smoking falling from her mouth as she saw the story.

It had only been 21 hours since Carmilla had lured her to The Dean's quarters, never before had one of the marks been named missing in the tabloids so quickly.

Carmilla grabbed two copies, dropping 60 cents on the bench.

'Mother's not gonna like this...'

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"How could you allow this to happen!" The Dean yelled, her saliva spraying onto Carmilla's face. One of her hands was balled into a fist while the other gripped onto the newspaper, flinging it around the space.

'Christ, she's going ape.'  She thought.

Carmilla wiped the spit from her face. "I don't know how it happened, Mother. I didn't see the dame talk to anyone when I was watching her. Not to mention that I don't even need to be as thorough as I always am, nobody is brave enough to go up against you anyway-"

Carmilla was cut off by the back of The Dean's hand slicing against her cheek, the blow so hard and searing that it caused her to surge back. It didn't matter how many times The Dean hit her, Carmilla never got used to the burning pain and the cold wind that follows a slap from The Dean. The woman she had come to call Mother.

"CLEARLY SOMEONE IS BRAVE ENOUGH!!" The Dean shrieked, the veins surging out of her neck, her face burning red. The Dean took a few deep breaths before speaking again. "My precious girl, I don't mean to flip my wing. This situation can quickly be fixed."

Carmilla wiped her cheek and swallowed the blood from her lip where her teeth had sunk in to keep herself from crying. "How?"

The Dean turned around, placing the newspaper on her desk and flipping to the main article before turning back around to Carmilla, the article open and an evil smirk on her features. "You're going to find the author. Laura Hollis."

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Carmilla cut out quickly after that, making her way to the nearest hall of records.

She spent the day there, searching through every name of Hollis before finding the one of relevance and quickly reading through the family history.

"Hollis, Laura. Daughter of Lauren and Sherman Hollis. Born 1947..."

Carmilla spent hours scavenging for information, finding out many bits of tragic information about the family under the Hollis name. The one effecting Laura most directly being the death of her mother when she was 4 years old, losing her due to pneumonia in 1951.

Her father, Sherman, was a police officer.

'Her old man's a fucking pig? Poor girl...'

Carmilla sat for several more hours, trying to figure out a place of work, yet never finding one. 'Must work from home...'

Carmilla left and quickly started her plan to find, survey and eventually lure Laura Hollis.

'I wonder if she remembers her mother fourteen years after she's died...I know I don't...'

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Carmilla walked towards the police station, her hands shaking in the pockets of her trench coat.

"Dumb idea, stupid idea, fucking awful idea." She chanted on her way to the front door, taking a deep breath as she put a hand on the ice cold golden handle.

She made her way up to the front desk and asked for Officer Sherman Hollis, being directed to an office to the left.

She knocked on the wooden door thrice, quite politely. "Come in." Came the call.

When Sherman saw Carmilla walk in he instantly froze, a look of confusion on his face.

Carmilla put her arms up in surrender. "Calm down pig, I ain't gonna hurt you. I'm just asking about your daughter."

Sherman's mood changed instantly. "You won't get my daughter! I won't fucking let you! I will arrest you right now if I have to!"

Carmilla's hands came up again. "With what evidence? Under what charge? With what warrant? Come on Sherman, I'm just here to chat."

Sherman's eyebrows crossed in suspicion. "Why?"

Carmilla shrugged. She made a stride towards the desk, sitting on it. "Your girl put out somethin' pretty damaging. Her missing friend ain't ever gonna be found. I don't even know where she is. What I do know is that shit like that is gonna get your daughter in some dangerous shit. The Dean's after her."

Sherman nodded. "Yeah makes sense. But still. Why do you want to help her?"

Carmilla smirked and shrugged. "No one's ever been brave enough to go after us before. Not even you. Your daughter intrigues me Officer Hollis. She has a fire in her, I can feel it. She's got a spunk I ain't ever seen before. There aren't many people out there so willing to put themselves into the line of fire...I want to keep her around. Give some good to the world."

Sherman puts his head in his hands and sighs. "A'ight. She lives in apartment 69A in the Lake View place. Here, I'll give you her picture..."

"Wait hang on a minute! She lived with Elizabeth?"

Sherman nodded his head, still searching in his desk. "Yeah. Her and Betty were inseparable. When Laura's telephone didn't ring that's how she knew something was wrong."

Sherman takes out his wallet and hands Carmilla a picture.

Her jaw drops for the second time in 24 hours.

'Holy shit, she's a right fox!'

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Carmilla knocks on the door to the apartment, a calm, bored expression on her features.

She has to remember to keep that in check when Laura opened the door.

The door creaked open to reveal vibrant light brown hair and piercing brown eyes. Carmilla's brain sort circuited and she cursed her lesbianism for clouding her judgement and distracting her from the task at hand...sort of...kinda? Considering Laura was the task and Laura was the thing distracting her, is Carmilla truly distracted from the task?

Carmilla's brain hurt.

"Carmilla Karnstein? What the hell are you doing at my apartment?" Laura questioned.

"That report you made. It was brave. You're a raging idiot but it was brave. And dangerous. An article like that puts a dame like you in a mountain of trouble." Carmilla explainer cooly.

Laura scoffs, a roll of her eyes adding to her clear annoyance. "And just what makes you think I care Ms Karnstein? My best friend is missing. Most likely dead. And unlike the rest of this town, I'm not afraid to point my finger at your entire shitty family. I'm a freelance investigative journalist, I can write what I like. That includes "inflammatory" articles on The Dean and the part you play in her game." Laura's fierceness and steely resolve radiates through her tone. Her eyes shoot daggers into Carmilla's.

Carmilla smirks. 'I like this one...'

"You may be right missy, but that doesn't change the fact you've put yourself into some serious shit." Carmilla shrugs noncommittally

Laura sighs. "I'm aware of that. But that doesn't explain why you're here."

Carmilla drops her smirk, appearing more professional and disconnected. "I've got a proposal for ya. Moth-The Dean, is onto you. Wants you out the picture. But I don't think that should happen. You need protection."

Laura scoffs again, a look of humour and disbelief on her features. "And what? You think you're the one to do it?"

Carmilla nods. "Who better to protect you than someone from the inside. I know the plans. I can keep you safe."

"And what makes you think I want you anywhere near me?"

Carmilla steps closer, hand resting on the doorframe. "Would you rather die little lady?"

Laura looks Carmilla straight in the eyes, trying to decipher if she's trying to deceive her. Eventually she closes her eyes and sighs. "Fine. I guess you're right. But if I catch you doing anything shady, I know Krav Maga and I will kick your pale little ass."

Carmilla laughs and steps in. "Sure thing cutie. Now, where am I sleeping?"
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"I've gotten myself into a good position. I can watch her almost all the time. She shouldn't be much of an issue."

Carmilla spoke into the pay phone, her mind reeling with conflicting thoughts.

"That's excellent my girl. Keep watching her. I'll let you know when it's time."

Carmilla bit her lip, her eyebrows creasing. "Time for what?"

The Dean laughs on the other end. "To get rid of her of course! We can't leave someone like that alive. It could destroy everything I've made. Everything I've worked for."

'Everything you've made other people work for you mean...' Carmilla thinks, sighing. "I understand mother. I'll call you as soon as I have more info on the target."

"I would expect nothing less Mircalla. Goodbye my darling girl."

Carmilla hangs up the phone, not bothering to wish The Dean farewell. She makes her way to the nearest supermarket to pick up some soy milk, contemplating how she wants to go about Laura Hollis.

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"YOU ARE THE WORST ROOMMATE EVER!" Laura yells at an amused Carmilla, who is currently lying on Laura's bed with a smug look on her face.

"Oh really? What ever did I do?" Carmilla feigned innocence, struggling to suppress laughter.

Laura's face bunches up in frustration. "You steal my bed, you steal my pillow, you leave hair in the shower drain, you use my bed to wipe things off your feet, you put food colouring and corn syrup in my milk carton, should I continue?"

"Are you sure it wasn't the blood of my enemies?"

"CARMILLA!!!!!"

Carmilla laughs, pointing at Laura's face. "That little bunched up face you make when you're angry is hilarious Buttercup."

Laura groans, almost growls, at Carmilla. "I can't fu-fully believe that you can be this intolerable. I get you're a mob hoon, but you could at least show some semblance of humanity, respect and humility! You are staying in MY apartment. For free!! I don't give a flying Dalek that you're "protecting" me! I could throw you out right now if I wanted! Respect me, my apartment and my chore wheel!"

Laura's face had begun going red, the veins on her neck were protruding. She was sure that if a pin needle touched her face, her head would pop. 'She's just so aggravating!'

Carmilla got up from the bed, raising her hands in surrender. "Alright darlin', fine. You win. I will try my best to not be a bother." Carmilla makes her way to the kitchen to throw out the milk container. "I'll go out and get you more milk."

Laura smiles. "Thank you."

Carmilla turns before walking out the door, winking at Laura. "No sweat Honeybunch. I clearly gotta show you I'm no flake."

Laura watches as Carmilla walks out the apartment and closes the door, bewilderment clear on her face.

"Was...did she just? Was that? Did she just flirt with?"

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"Ah! Darling, what a surprise! Have you got new information on the target?"

Carmilla sighs, giving a light nod. "She's feisty. Perceptive. Naive. And I would go as far to say she isn't a threat."

The Dean's eyes go a shade darker, staring right into Carmilla's soul. "If I say she's a threat, she's a threat."

Carmilla shakes her head. "That's just it Mother, you don't know her. I've been the one watching her. She barely leaves the house, she works from home, she has like three friends. She's nothing gnarly, Mother. I could stop her putting out any inflammatory articles by just being there to watch her." She insists.

The Dean takes a long, deep breath, her face unreadable. "What I lovely speech Mircalla. I would almost say you've gone soft."

Carmilla tries to swallow, but her mouth is a desert. Hot, uncomfortable, dry. "I'm not soft Mother. I'll do what needs to be done."

The Dean nods. "Perfect. Get rid of her within two weeks...and Mircalla?"

The Dean walks towards Carmilla, touching her shoulders lightly before lightly gripping at her shirt collar.

"Don't waste my time."

Carmilla nods and sighs, slowly stepping away from The Dean and her office.

As Carmilla solemnly walks away from the building, she has an idea.

She walks back in, looks around for her mother, goes into her office, opens a filing cabinet...

Then finds the files she's looking to bring to a certain tiny journalist.

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"Hello, Hot Dog, I have something special for you." Carmilla greets as she walks into the apartment.

Laura turns around, one eyebrow raised. "I'm no show off Karnstein. What do you have for me?"

Carmilla reveals the files from behind her back. The names SJ, Natalie and Elizabeth on them.

Laura's eyes widen, taking the files into her hands and observing them in disbelief. "Are these what I think they are?"

Carmilla nods. "Every name, date and and time of every event leading up to and including the nabbings of your neighbours and flat mate...including my involvement."

Laura looked up, confusion blatant on her face. "Why?"

Carmilla shrugged. "I don't know. Guess I figured you deserve to know. And since you want to help change the world through your little typewriter, i thought giving you these for you to peruse is a good way to start you on your mission."

Laura puts the files down, shaking her head. "Do I want to know what you've done? Do I even want to do this to you? The Dean would get you murked."

"Hey, Creampuff. Don't flip your wig. You know who I am. The shit in there won't be much news to you. I haven't killed anyone. I survey. I lure. I bring the target to the real killer in our business. I can deal with Moth-The Dean when it comes to that. Just...do what you think is right Darlin'."

Laura's surprisingly on the verge of tears, getting up from the small couch to tackle Carmilla down in a hug.

"Thanks Carm."

Carmilla let's put something between a scoff and a chuckle, her arms slowly coming up to wrap around the girl she has become dangerously attracted and attached to.

"No problem, cupcake."

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*flippity dippity time skippity*

"SHE'S RUINED ME!"

The Dean paces the room, throwing papers and files and other various objects around the room.

Carmilla watches on with anxiety, her "brother" Will standing next to her with a smirk on his face.

"Indeed she has Mother. I'm starting to think that Carmilla might be gettin a bit mushy over the job. Maybe letting her lady feelings get in the way of the task." He states smugly, poking Carmilla in the arm as he speaks.

Carmilla bares her teeth and growls. "Fuck off Mama's boy!"

"ENOUGH!"

The Dean screams into their faces. She turns to Carmilla, pure unadulterated rage coursing through her. "I told you to take her here MONTHS ago. Instead we have a newspaper FILLED with the details of three seperate targets. I thought I could trust you..." the Dean walks towards Carmilla. "I thought that you were my strong darling girl."

Another step.

"I thought after El you would've learnt your lesson."

Another step.

"But maybe Will's right. You're fucking weak. You're a fucking flake, Mircalla."

The last step.

The Dean grabs Carmilla by the collar of her shirt, spitting in her face.

"I should kill you right now. But that isn't true punishment, is it?" The Dean lets go, allowing Carmilla to wipe the saliva off her face.

"No...I've got a better idea."

The Dean unlocks a cabinet in her desk, revealing a Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum.

The very same gun The Dean used to murder Carmilla's first girlfriend.

"You're going to kill the target. With this."
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When Carmilla walked back into the apartment, Laura rushed her, tackling her into a hug.

"I was so worried she did something to you." Laura muffled into Carmilla's chest.

Carmilla sighed, closing her eyes.

Whether to relish in the moment or in pain, she didn't know.

Carmilla have her a small squeeze before pulling back. "No can do, Cupcake. You're not getting rid of me that easy."

Laura smiled, shaking her head lightly before laughing to herself.

Carmilla was confused.

"Uhhhh, what's so funny sweetheart?"

Laura raised her hands in the air. "I don't know. I guess I just..."

Laura stepped back into Carmilla's space, situating her hands around the back of Carmilla's neck. "I guess I just didn't expect for me to feel so..."

Laura looks down to take a deep breath before looking back up.

Carmilla's eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Feel what?"

Laura bites her lip, causing Carmilla heart palpitations. 'Not fair ass-hollis'

Before either one of them know it, Carmilla is cupping her hands around Laura's cheeks and pulling her into a kiss.

Laura smiles and laughs, pulling Carmilla closer via moving her hands from behind the taller girl's neck to her waist.

Carmilla on the other hand, has tears hiding behind her eyelids.

When they eventually pull away, Carmilla places their foreheads together and sighs.

'I guess it's time...'

"Do you...wanna go for a ride?"

Laura giggles, giving a slight nod.

"I would love to go on a drive with you, Carm."
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Laura wakes up in a dark room, the only thing visible being the even darker hallway.

She feels herself on her knees, her wrists and ankles tied together on a cold, hard surface. 'I'm guessing that's some kinda pole'

"Hello!? Is anyone over there!? What the hell am I doing here?"

Laura's yells are met with no response...immediately.

After a few minutes Laura hears a few sets of footsteps.

The first person to come in is Will. The second is The Dean. The third and final person comes in. And Laura's heart drops through the Earth.

It's Carmilla.

It's Carmilla holding a gun.

It's Carmilla, holding a gun, in tears.

Laura figures out what's happening pretty quickly, a sob escapes from her throat.

"Was it all a lie?"

Carmilla immediately shakes her head. "No! I mean at first but...no." Carmilla's voice breaks.

The Dean rolls her eyes. "So many pointless emotions in this room. Hush children, we need to get down to business." The Dean walks around Laura, turning on one dim desk lamp.

Will snickers at the situation. "I mean you weren't wrong Carm. She is a fox. I wouldn't mind getting a piece of that-"

"If you finish that sentence I will shove this gun up your ass and shoot you." Carmilla growls, raising the gun, beginning and finishing the threat aiming at his dick.

Will raises his arms in surrender. "Ooooo, territorial are we Kitty?" He chuckles.

Laura feels like she could throw up.

The Dean comes back around to stand in front of Laura.

"You've caused...a lot, of troubles for me. Half of my men have been arrested. Three of my operations have shut down and now everyone has evidence as to who is responsible for the disappearances of all those girls. And I can't have that. I've spent a lot of time building this empire, you fucking wench. You're not taking that away from me." The Dean walks to stand in line with Will and Carmilla.

"Mircalla? You know what to do."

Carmilla looks between her mother and Laura.

Between expectation and fear.

Between ownership and love.

Between greed and compassion.

Carmilla sighs and walks to stand in front of Laura, raising the gun in her hand to aim right between the girl's eyes.

Laura shakes her head. "Carm. Please. Don't do this. You don't have to do this."

"Do it Mircalla."

Carmilla shakes her head. "Sorry Hollis. But I'm not weak. I'm stronger than you here. I have to do this. I can't be weak in this world. Not anymore."

Tears begin to stream down Laura's face. "But you're anything but weak Carmilla. Look at you! You've helped me, rebelled, became a better person. Being strong doesn't have to mean being cruel. It doesn't have to mean living this life, trapped under The Dean's thumb. Stronger doesn't mean you're heartless. Stronger means you think for yourself."

"For Christ's sake, shoot her before I do something much, much worse to her Kitty."

Carmilla, closes her eyes, he finger hovering above the trigger.

The gun still facing Laura.

"You know? I'm really sick of this morally ambiguous mobster crap."

Before anyone can realise what's happened, Carmilla shoots Will between the eyes and shoots The Dean in the kneecap.

She tosses the gun to another side of the room and works on untying Laura.

"I'm so sorry I did this to you, I-"

Laura shushes Carmilla, holding her face in her hands once they're free. "I don't care. I'm so proud of you Carm."

The pair smile at each other, tears in their eyes. They let out a small laugh before pulling each other in for their second kiss.

It's wonderful.

Carmilla pulls away, screaming. She's holding her stomach as she collapses to the floor.

The Dean stands behind the pair, gun pointing at Carmilla's back. "Oh I only hit one of you. What a shame."

Laura's entire body is frozen for about three seconds before she stands, rage taking over her body.

She uses her Krav Maga skills to kick the absolute shit out of The Dean, dragging her to the pole to tie her up before calling the cops and ambulance.

Carmilla groans on the floor, pulling Laura back to reality.

She collapses next to Carmilla's body, pulling her into her lap. Laura tips part of her shirt and begins applying pressure to the wound. "Don't you fucking dare die on me."

Carmilla chuckles weakly before coughing up blood. "Laura Hollis just swore. The world must be coming to an end."

Laura laughs as tears stream down her face. "Shut up Carm. You've only just stared living the way you want to live, you can't give up yet! You can't die on me you stupid mobster!"

Carmilla looks into Laura's eyes, smiling weakly. "All I care about is that you're safe now. I can go have a blast in heaven or some shit."

Laura shakes her head vigorously. "No. Not heaven. You can have a blast in our apartment, where you're going back to after the doctors fix all this up."

Carmilla lightly shook her head. "I knew you were special when I first saw you. You have such a massive fire in your belly, Creampuff. Thank you for helping me feel happy again. Even if it was only short."

"But I can keep making you happy! Just stay with me! The ambulance will be here soon!"

"Not soon enough, foxy lady. I'm just about ready to go."

"No you're not! Just stay awake Carm!"

Carmilla tries to lift her hand to Laura's face, but she's too weak. Instead, she settles for allowing it to fall on top of Laura's. "You...you go and change...the world...hot dog."

Carmilla looks Laura in the eyes, smiling lightly before letting her own fall. Leaving Laura to weep over her on the bloody floor.

The ambulance arrive before the cops.
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Only three people show up to Carmilla's funeral.

Sherman, Carmilla's adoptive older sister Mattie and Laura.

Laura left the event disappointed and dehydrated. No one among wanted to say nice things about her and Laura had cried. A lot.

"I'm sorry your friend died sweetie." Sherman attempted to comfort his daughter as he drove her to her apartment.

Laura sighed. "She wasn't just my friend dad...I really liked her."

Sherman's eyes widened. "Do you think you loved her?"

Laura looked out the window. "We didn't even establish if we were dating yet. I...I'll never get to find out if I did."

Sherman nodded his head. "You know even though she assisted in kidnapping...she was a nice kid. And she saved your life. And she helped us put Maman behind bars. You could've picked someone worse. Like that Danny girl."

Laura nodded in agreement. "Thanks Dad."

Sherman nodded, turning off the car once they arrived at the apartment complex. "You'll get through this kid. You'll see each other again. One day."

Laura nodded, thanking her father before walking into her building to get into her apartment.

Laura throws her bag onto the floor and crashes on the couch. She looks around the room and finds Carmilla's fedora. She gets up, taking the hat from the hook and twirling it in her fingers.

She could see some of Carmilla's hair inside the hat.

'One day...'